Modi Multibit: Multibit for the masses.

Well here's a hearty RIP to the rest of the industry that sells DACs. I can't see how anyone else can compete with this... currently. I'm sure this will force other companies to produce lower cost and competitive products, but as far as I know these simply don't exist yet. I don't know at what price point you could get something on a par with this MM from another company, but I'm sure it's at least double if not triple.

 

So how does mb bifrost differentiate from this new mb modi?
Is Schiit killing the whole Bifrost line?

 

Do you think this is the lack of discreet output stage on the Modi/Bifrost Multibit, and possibly less beefy transformers/linear power?

 

Marv.. your thoughts on SQ alone: ModiBit vs Bifrost 4490?

 

Sounds like its only sins are of omission. A little less resolution here, little less depth there, lit

Read the Schiit happened chapter.

For everyone else about to post a question, read the above line.

 

Internal pics later today.

 

Considering that I just paid to upgrade my BF4490 to a Bifrost Multibit this past weekend, comments like this and Marv's have provoked a bit of hand-wringing on my end!

@Hands: When you say "faltered," should I assume you mean "relative to Schiit's other multibit offerings" perhaps? Or is it a general, more substantial indictment of the Bifrost Multibit's overall performance? Apologies for asking you to retread old ground here, but it seems a relevant question to ask. If for no other reason than to satisfy my own vapid self interest.

@Marvey: Not much to add to @Hands' question, but would you say that the superior smoothness of the Modibit places it ahead of the Bifrost Multibit tonally? Is there any meaningful difference in extension/technicalities? Certainly interested to read your answer, here. After all, the Bifrost Multibit upgrade costs the same as the Modibit. It'd be no skin off my nose to switch my order.

Thanks, guys.

Edit: Damnit @Marvey, you answered my question in the time it took me compose it! Kudos.

 

So what's interesting about the Bifrost-impact angle is that there are really three ways it impacts the Bifrost's value proposition:

1. The obvious one is that it gives you nearly-identical circuitry to the Bifrost Multibit in a package less than half the price. That's huge in a way, but I honestly don't think it's that big a deal. Better power supply and physical matching with Asgard/Lyr/Valhalla is going to make the Bifrost MB still worth it to a lot of people. (I mean, if I could trade mine in for a Modi MB and pocket the difference, I wouldn't.)

2. The more interesting one is what it does to Bifrost 4490. Get the multibit sound for $150 less than a D/S DAC? Well, that's super-cool, but for whom is the Bifrost 4490 a recommended purchase now? I just don't see how it makes sense in the lineup... except that it seems harsh to make the visually-matching DAC for a $250 amp start at $600.

3. And the more subtle thing is, it kind of shows the limit of the value of upgradeability. If you had bought an original Bifrost and wanted to update it to Multibit, it was $250. If you bought an original Modi and want to update it to Multibit... it's also $250, and you still have a working DAC that you can resell/reuse. So yeah, upgradeability has some value, but if you're looking at a Modi, it's hard to argue that Bifrost's upgradeability alone makes it worth more money, because upgrading your Modi down the road will be pretty cost-effective.

Mostly, though, I'm just glad that I already bought the Bifrost Multibit, because I feel like I'd spend a lot of time agonizing and unable to make a decision if I had to make one today...

 

Voting to nickname it: Moby

 

Nice ring to that. You've got mine!

 

I have a question for @schiit, if possible - Why does the Multibit Platform 2 have half of the number of taps of Platform 1? ie What did halving the tap length allow you to do more inexpensively in those designs? I'm just curious about all things burrito filter.

 

When I had Bifrost Uber and Bifrost Multibit side by side in my system for a while, I felt like the Bifrost Multibit sounded softer, imaging and separation were a tad better for me but it lacked the balls of the Uber, while also lacking a bit of Ubers harshness up top. Gungnir Multibit offered more of the Bifrost Multibit's positives, but also seemed to match/surpass the bass texture, extension, and slam of the Uber.

 

I am guessing it has more to do with the fact that the platform 1 dacs are full balanced, and platform 2 are not.

 

I'm probably a dork, but I was under the impression that Gungnir Multibit/Yggdrasil are not fully balanced DACs - only Gungnir DS is balanced. Help me Obi Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope.

Edit - nm, they are balanced, but i mean i don't think they employ dual DACs, like the Gung D/S

 

Congrats to Jason and Mike! R2R is now available for the same price as a GOV2 (although minus the amp), and that's a hell of an accomplishment!

Part of me is tempted to buy one of these and sell of my Bifrost Multibit, but if I do decide to do that I'll wait to see if there isn't a Bifrost Multibit upgrade planned first.

 

We are great believers in continual improvement at lower costs.

(You know, kinda like the entire technology industry—with the exception of most high-end audio.)

 

No, they use 4 DACs. Hardware balanced, one DAC per phase.